County Approves Transit's First Fare Hike in 13 Years to Save Late-Night Routes

06 November 2026

Miami-Dade County's 2027 transit budget balances tenuous funding with service restorations.

With Commissioners approving the county's first transit fare hike in 13 years, Miami-Dade residents will soon pay more to avoid losing late-night buses and Metrorail trips. The change, slated to start in January 2027, raises fares by 50 cents to $2.75.

While the roughly $9.2 million in extra revenue will preserve some service restorations, it's not enough on its own. "The proposed increases to transit fares do not address the myriad of funding changes that have impacted the General Fund in the last eight months," said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

The restorations include Routes 3, 11, 27, 77, and 79, as well as late-night coverage near Norris Park, 125th Street, Biscayne Park, and Nicklaus Children's Hospital. But counties face tough choices. The commission approved those restorations along with over 3,300 reduced rides.

Late-night, pre-dawn, and less frequent service will all be affected. Sixteen routes will be shortened to cut afternoon and evening hours: 338, 203, 204, 272, 288. Two dozen more will lose late-night service.

"All 13 County Commission districts will feel this," Levine Cava said. "Who's going to take the bus now, at 11 PM, if they work the late shift?"

Transit advocates worry the fare increase may lead to more cuts later. Miami-Dade faces a $31 million service shortfall in 2027, even with a nearly $70 million increase in transportation funding for the General Fund, which will total $336 million.

It reflects the county's concerns about Amendment 3 - a repeal they believe could mean up to $29 million in lost transit funding in 2027. "Service cuts will hurt thousands of people," Levine Cava added.

If projections hold, more cuts may follow. The commission didn't approve a 2028 budget, and the mayor provided no updated 2026 estimates. Transit officials prioritized replenishing bus maintenance funds, hoping to preserve service next year.

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But funding the transit system remains challenging despite the fare increase. Officials estimate the additional revenue at just $9.2 million. That's because under the commission's approach, low-ridership routes face reductions. For example, Route 279 and five other coverage routes were cut due to low ridership.

Recent cuts will save the county $1.7 million annually, but result in 10 PM closures for 16 route pairs, affecting 250 riders. With annual ridership of 3.6 million, officials say the system will continue operating. The remaining shortfall concerns transit advocates.

Twelve of the original 17 routes approved for cuts remain canceled, impacting 3,200 riders. Commissioner Esteban Bovo said funds should focus on higher-performing routes. Levine Cava, citing an 8% usage rate, called them "necessary."

She said the county could have avoided cuts without Amendment 3. In the year before January 2027, all transit funding will come from the county's General Fund, which amendment opponents claim could cost households $833 more. "It's hurting everyone," Levine Cava said.

"They know this service is crucial," said Auday Awwad, director of Transit Alliance Miami, a nonprofit that challenged Amendment 3 last October. "We're trying to prevent a worsening crisis. The county must prioritize essential services."

The 2027 budget includes no plan to restore transit funding annually. If revenue falls short as predicted, 2027 deficits could force 2028 cuts. "The best option is avoiding service reductions," said Awwad.

Levine Cava shares this view. Though her office didn't attend a Transit Alliance meeting about funding options, they welcome plans for a Miami-Dade bus route app in 2027.

While long-term solutions remain unclear, the Mayor remains hopeful. "I believe the County is doing all it can to support transit," she said. "When we say resources are exhausted, we mean it. We've reached our limit. More discussions are needed."